CLEO
CURLY COATED RETRIEVER

Cleo is a Curly Coated Retriever and will be turning seven years old in December. We have had Cleo since she was a baby; no more than a handful in size. Just a few weeks after getting her we took Cleo to the 'Ballaarat Dog Obedience Club" where we have been members since. Cleo is a very patient, loving and non aggressive type of dog. She even lets the cat sniff her without bother. I don't know if she realises what the cat is. Cleo just loves life, especially meal times.

Cleo has been involved in quite a few different disciplines and has other interests outside club. She was first involved in Obedience where she gained her Novice title before turning her attentions to the show ring. In the ring she gained the title of Australian Champion as a pup. Once she had achieved this standard we returned to Obedience trialling where she achieved her CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) title.

Cleo has also spent time learning Agility but her main focus these days is in the discipline of Tracking. Cleo recently achieved her TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) title.

As the tracking season is over for this year we will have to wait until 2005 before we continue to pursue the TCH (Tracking Champion) title. We missed out on achieving this at the last competition; I fell over three times as she tried to track. This is the highest title in tracking and involves an 1100 metre long track laid by an unknown person (to Cleo at least). There are plenty of sharp turns and cross overs where other scents are laid across her track. A real challenge but one I am sure Cleo is up to.

Outside of club, Cleo has been involved in "Pet Education" for at least the past four years. Having successfully completed the tests set to identify suitable dogs, Cleo was allowed into schools where we educate school children on the subject of dog safety. We visit the children from Kindergartens, Primary Schools and Special Schools; Cleo is always more than happy to be there.

At one Special School we were visiting, there was a young boy in a wheel chair who could not communicate. Cleo picked him out and just went and sat next to him. She has an amazing sense and loves everyone.

We have been to a number of schools in my area, including St. Arnaud, Edenhope and Moyston. We both continue to enjoy the experience. The kids always ask what Cleo can do. We show them obedience work and some tracking but they always want her to shake hands or do some tricks! It's something I have never taught her and I guess I will have to talk to Margaret (Tricks Coordinator) about that... some day.

In the meantime we get lots of laughs in tracking; onlookers are amused when just for extra fun Cleo drags me across water filled culverts up to my knees. Also I smile remembering the time I mapped out a secret track as Cleo sees markers on the ground, so to make her work without any help, I nailed at head height paper plates on trees at the track corners. Guess who stood on tippy toe and licked them ALL .................

In each of the disciplines we have made it fun, and rewarding, which I believe is a vital part of dog training.

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